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While choosing a doorknob color might seem like a minor task, it is just as important as choosing paint and furnishings because doorknobs also add personality to your space. Antique brass, for example, adds a cozy, rustic feel to your space. Brushed nickel, on the other hand, gives a sleek, modern look. Knowing your options and how each color works in your space can help you choose the ideal color for your needs and decor.

Considerations when Choosing a Color

Choose doorknob colors that stand out from the door and suit the room they’re installed in. A dark knob installed on a dark wood door would blend in and become lost. However, if you select a lighter color, such as pewter, or a bright polished brass knob, you draw attention to both the knob and the door. Keep in mind the color of other hardware in your home as well. Although your doorknobs don’t have to match exactly, the colors should work together. Experiment with contrasting textures as well as color. For example, a door with a glossy finish might benefit with a textured knob like brushed nickel. A cut glass or colorful enamel doorknob is an ideal accent to an Old World decor.

Satin, Chrome and Steel

These materials provide various shades of silver-gray that suit a variety of decors. Satin nickel finishes are bright, with a soft sheen, making them ideal for modern homes. Distressed nickel is darker, with a natural patina that suits traditional decors with natural stone and wood accents. The silvery brightness of chrome and stainless steel are a popular doorknob color because of their design versatility. Bright chrome and stainless steel are highly polished and ideal for modern or retro decors. Satin chrome, on the other hand, is a more textured finish, with a duller color suited to traditional designs.

Bronze

The warmth of bronze, with its orange and brown undertones is a color that accents both light colors and dark. Satin bronze doorknobs provide the true, rich beauty of bronze, and blend well with wood floors and trim. Aged-bronze doorknobs are ideal for both traditional and modern decor, with a deeper color that is more black with red undertones than bronze. When you want to add texture to your space as well as dark color, oil-rubbed bronze might be a good choice. This bronze acquires a naturally aged appearance over time.

Brass

Brass-colored doorknobs are a traditional option, prized for their usefulness in almost any space. Bright brass knobs add extra sparkle and shine to modern decors with their highly polished yellow-gold finish. Antique brass doorknobs have a slightly darker color and weathered finish that is ideal for Colonial and traditional settings.

Pewter

Pewter adds sophistication and richness in most styles or decors. Made of a tin alloy with hints of white under gray-silver, pewter doorknobs are ideal when you want the rustic feel of antique brass with the modern shine of chrome or steel. Pewter doorknobs are typically given a brushed or satin finish but are also available in antique finishes for deeper color and scratch hiding.

Colored Ceramic and Enamel

Colored ceramic or enameled knobs are both versatile and durable. They’re typically seen in country decors, but can make a bold choice in a contemporary or retro setting. Colors range from black and white to red and blue. Ceramic doorknobs are also available with a variety of patterns, depending on the manufacturer. These knobs may also be accented by metals or wood, making your design options almost limitless.

About the Author

Renee Miller began writing professionally in 2008, contributing to websites and the "Community Press" newspaper. She is co-founder of On Fiction Writing, a website for writers. Miller holds a diploma in social services from Clarke College in Belleville, Ontario.